I have been on Zoloft for more than 30 years. My dose has gone from 50 to 100 to 50 a few times. I am more aware now than ever on the consequences this has had on my life, but am optimistic that good will come from it. Ever since I heard Dr. Josef while traveling in October 2025, I have been hyper engaged mostly watching videos on You Tube. The intensity and sense of community has validated my belief system and to this moment: Taper Jan. 2026. Went from 50mg of Zoloft to 37.5. That was too much too fast. I am now at 37.5 every other day and 25mg every other day. Interestingly, I became a PMHNP about 2 years ago. I want to join a practice that focuses on de-prescribing medication, but first i need to understand it myself. I am at square one. here is some of my story:

Since 1986 I had been going to grateful dead concerts, there I learned to listen and I felt connected to something religious and real. Little did I know back then that it would be a cornerstone of my faith journey. I read Andrew Weil's book The Natural Mind in 1989. The possibilities were endless. I transfered from Ithaca College to San Francisco State in 1990. 

I'm 20 years old.

After 25 years of marriage my parents got divorced. As an only child I thought: Was my childhood fake? What is real?  

In my mid 20s I began taking Paxil, and slept for 2 weeks. The psychiatrist then switched me to Zoloft- and I felt like "I have been to a yoga class without going to a yoga class!" At the time I was working as a massage therapist. I use to say "I have eyes in my fingertips!" They guided me through my patients bodies, clearing tightness in muscles and clearing channels of stuck energy; that's how I saw it. it was a meditation for me. Soon, I noticed that the eyes in fingertips were not as keen as they once were. I attributed it to the zoloft, but continued to take it anyway.

-Now I see that as the zoloft numbed my insightful intuitive hands, it also numbed a lot more.

None-the-less, I stayed  focused, perusing my studies, health, and spiritual contemplation while dancing at concerts.

I was not very grounded at times, and really needed a therapist, or spiritual advisor.

The zoloft became part of my routine, with the spirulina, vegetarian diet, and 7 mile runs through golden gate park. I felt on top of the world some of the time, but lonely and struggled connecting with people. The numb was subtle. Contemplating life alone in San Francisco in the 1990s. Before the internet. Before cell phones. In fact, I had a pager. That was pretty bad-ass back then.

I moved back to the East Coast, and enrolled in Nursing School to integrate eastern and Western medicine. 1997-2000

DECADE 2 on Zoloft: I eventually got married, we have 2 kiddos (now 22 and 17) and I worked as an RN in med-surg. then home health, then med-surg again. 

During those 20-25 years I tried to get off the zoloft a few times, But I always returned to it.  I tried to get off one 4th of July in particular. I felt like everything was in place, and I knew I didn't need it. Withdrawal, was brutal. I tried a "slow 1 month taper" I now understand, but I was not aware of it then, it is withdrawl- NOT ME NEEDING THE MEDICATION. I will never forget getting into an argument with my husband in front of the whole family- it was awful, I lost it. I got back on the zoloft.  

Searching for career satisfaction since a lot of the other boxes of life were checked, I decided to go back to school. I tried real estate, went to yoga teacher training, but really missed nursing in the sense of helping people. STILL ON ZOLOFT 50-75 mg a day. I just stayed on it- it was easier, not a priority with kids, family, a job etc....

DECADE 3: Just before COVID I enrolled in an online MSN program. I am grateful for my grit, and trust in G-d through it all.  I listen. I passed my PMHNP Boards about 2 years ago (to the day) and am now a prescriber in mental health. PLOT TWIST! I didn't see it coming, but my Faith did. That is the hardest part sometimes. To have the Faith to let go and let G-d.

I am now ALWAYS having conversations with my patients about responsible medication use. It's getting a little tricky, talking to my patients about the off ramp, and the temporary responsible use of medication. I feel like I am part of a secret society because my value system differs from that of the clinical team. 

I am managing my own taper right now- learning as much as possible. I need some help.

Today I came onto this site looking for a compound pharmacy. And just spent an hour writing this.lol. Happy I got up early today and had a little extra time. So yeah, I am living the taper-dream at the moment. Clearly, G-d knows that it is much easier for me to help people through what I have experienced 1st hand. So here I am, learning what I can to help myself so I can help others.

I often feel invisible, but I am diligently working even if no one knows what I am up to.

Hi @Anne Dee

 

Welcome to the forum!

 

This is a volunteer-run, community forum aimed at helping those who are tapering and/or experiencing difficulties with psychiatric medications and withdrawl syndrome. We are not medical professionals and cannot offer medical advice. We simply offer support and opinions which you could use as talking points with a medical provider knowledgeable in withdrawing off psychiatric medications.

 

Please familiarise yourself with the forum rules and the disclaimer located here: Guidelines

 

Please make sure your signature is kept up to date with your drug history. This will allow members to see some basic information about your drug history and situation so that they may help you best. Information on how to do this is located in the FAQs section above, but here is a direct link: Update Signature

Once this is done, future posts made by you will have this signature turned on by default. For this reason please keep it clear but condensed as possible.

Thanks for posting your intro topic. There are a number of high profile prescribers in the community and Im sure you are aware of them it is great to have you on board to help with change, change that is very much needed.

 

17 hours ago, Anne Dee said:

My dose has gone from 50 to 100 to 50 a few times. I am more aware now than ever on the consequences this has had on my life, but am optimistic that good will come from it. Ever since I heard Dr. Josef while traveling in October 2025, I have been hyper engaged mostly watching videos on You Tube. The intensity and sense of community has validated my belief system and to this moment: Taper Jan. 2026. Went from 50mg of Zoloft to 37.5. That was too much too fast. I am now at 37.5 every other day and 25mg every other day. Interestingly, I became a PMHNP about 2 years ago. I want to join a practice that focuses on de-prescribing medication, but first i need to understand it myself. I am at square one.

I can see you have been on sertraline for a long time and have had a number of dose changes. The risks of protracted withdrawal increase significantly from both of these factors. I note your speedy tapers these dont help things either Im afraid to say. So important to do a slow taper.

 

Your nervous systems wants stability and missing doses every other day or uneven daily doses is very destabilising to us. You need to move to a single daily dose IMO. Its hard to know how to suggest you do this as sudden changes in doses isnt a good thing but that is exactly what you are doing by alternating daily doses. If I was to take a stab at a suggestion perhaps a dose in between the two but everyday (31.25mg) and hold there. Just a suggestion. Either way this is the first thing to tackle. @getofflex @LostinCanada do you guys have suggestions here?

 

17 hours ago, Anne Dee said:

I am now ALWAYS having conversations with my patients about responsible medication use. It's getting a little tricky, talking to my patients about the off ramp, and the temporary responsible use of medication. I feel like I am part of a secret society because my value system differs from that of the clinical team. 

I am managing my own taper right now- learning as much as possible. I need some help.

Today I came onto this site looking for a compound pharmacy. And just spent an hour writing this.lol. Happy I got up early today and had a little extra time. So yeah, I am living the taper-dream at the moment. Clearly, G-d knows that it is much easier for me to help people through what I have experienced 1st hand. So here I am, learning what I can to help myself so I can help others.

I often feel invisible, but I am diligently working even if no one knows what I am up to.

This is great well done for doing this, it is exactly what we need 🙂 In time I hope you dont feel like this and can operate in a system that is more pro safe deprescribing and informed consent for all.

 

We are here to help. As I said above your first job is to move to a single daily dose IMO. All these changes and un even doses will cause you irritation and so I would suggest a hold at that even dose for a while. Are you experiencing any WD/injury symptoms do you think?

 

Here is our information sheet on tapering for you to take a look at:

 

Tapering Information

 

Also this is out new small doses post which isnt live yet but will be today:

 

Preparing Doses for Tapering - Weighing & DIY Liquids

 

Thank you again for joining, you are so very welcome to the forum and any question don't hesitate to ask them! 🙂 

 

Here is some basic advice we offer to new members:

 

-Stay Hydrated 

 

-Eat a good clean whole food diet, avoiding processed foods and sugars.

 

-Stay away from caffeine, alcohol and antihistamines and any other psychoactive substances.

 

Supplements are to be avoided initially, as they often irritate our nervous systems. Try to get your nutrition through food.

 

Down the line, you may wish to introduce Fish Oil and Magnesium. Those who can tolerate them have found them calming to the nervous system. Be careful try one at a time and start low and see how you get on should you choose to try them.

 

A daily walk is very important as much as you can manage, if you can manage it. Gets you your fresh air and Vitamin D does wonders for your mind!

 

Chippy

OMG. Thank you for this. I can't wait to review. I need to spend HOURS on your site, especially since I am in a position to help others with this as well. I know it has to start with me, but I am very overwhelmed. Thanks very much for the information.

27 minutes ago, Anne Dee said:

OMG. Thank you for this. I can't wait to review. I need to spend HOURS on your site, especially since I am in a position to help others with this as well. I know it has to start with me, but I am very overwhelmed. Thanks very much for the information.

@Anne Dee Its a pleasure. Take your time. We are not going anywhere. Here for you when you need. Chippy

On 2/15/2026 at 7:41 AM, Anne Dee said:

I am now at 37.5 every other day and 25mg every other day.

Hi and welcome...This is not a good way to taper because plasma levels do not remain constant.

As @Chippy mentioned 

7 hours ago, Chippy said:

dose in between the two but everyday (31.25mg)

Definitely this wil set you up for a successful taper. Our body needs a consistent daily dose. 

On 2/15/2026 at 7:41 AM, Anne Dee said:

looking for a compound pharmacy

I think Outro Health may have a list of good compounding pharmacies. 

 

Glad you found us. ❤️🙏

@Anne Dee thank you for joining, welcome to the forum.

 

A major advantage you have this time, is that you are armed with the knowledge that you are sensitive to withdrawal of these substances, and therefore must exercise caution and take it slowly in some way.

 

None of what is on this site is clinical advice, however you may be aware (or may become aware) that clinical advice in various countries such as the UK, Australia etc is moving towards recognising the fact that some people are sensitive to common "fast tapers", and require a much slower, more cautious approach. I see you are in the USA- you've mentioned specific psychiatrists that are aware of these harms there too, which is good, but general clinical practice in the USA has not started moving towards this as much as in the aforementioned territories.

 

The hope would be that there is a domino effect- a few major countries leading the way in safe deprescribing will pave the way for others to follow suit.

 

Anyway, the above knowledge that you now possess- that you must go at your own pace and be careful, goes a long way towards avoiding coming to harm in the first place. Hopefully this means you will be able to taper at a pace that is tolerable for you, and that this leads to success for you.

Hello @Anne Dee, welcome to the forum! Thank you for telling your story in detail, I read it with great interest. You will find great support here and lots of encouragement. See you!

Nemina